18.56.115 Reduced Parking for Developments Within One-Half Mile of Public Transit.
A. Purpose. The purpose of this section is to implement California Government Code Section 65863.2. The imposition of mandatory parking minimums can increase the cost of housing, limit the number of available units, and lead to an oversupply of parking spaces and increased greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, prohibiting mandatory parking minimums furthers the City’s housing and greenhouse gas reduction goals.
B. Definitions. For purposes of this section:
“Event center” means a community center, activity center, auditorium, convention center, stadium, coliseum, arena, sports facility, pavilion, amphitheater, amusement park, fairgrounds, or other building, collection of buildings, or facility which is used exclusively or primarily for the holding of sporting events, contests of skill, exhibitions, conventions, meetings, spectacles, concerts, or shows, or for providing public amusement or entertainment.
“Housing development project” means a housing development project as defined in California Government Code Section 65589.5(h)(2).
“Low- and very low income households” means the same as “lower income households” as defined in California Health and Safety Code Section 50079.5.
“Moderate-income households” means the same as “persons and families of moderate income,” as defined in California Health and Safety Code Section 50093.
“Public transit” means a major transit stop as defined in California Public Resources Code Section 21155.
“Project” does not include a project where any portion is designated for use as a hotel, motel, bed and breakfast inn, or other transient lodging, except where a portion of a housing development project is designated for use as a residential hotel, as defined in Health and Safety Code Section 50519.
C. Reduced Parking Requirements Near Public Transit. The City shall not impose or enforce any minimum automobile parking requirement on a residential, commercial, or other development project if the project is located within one-half (1/2) mile of public transit.
D. Exceptions.
1. An event center shall provide parking as required in this chapter for employees and other workers.
2. Notwithstanding subsection (C) of this section, Reduced Parking Requirement Near Public Transit, the City may impose or enforce minimum automobile parking requirements on a project that is located within one-half (1/2) mile of public transit if the City makes written findings, within thirty (30) days of the receipt of a completed application, that not imposing or enforcing minimum automobile parking requirements on the development would have a substantially negative impact, supported by a preponderance of the evidence in the record, on any of the following:
a. The City’s ability to meet its share of the regional housing need in accordance with California Government Code Section 65584 for low- and very low income households.
b. The City’s ability to meet any special housing needs for the elderly or persons with disabilities identified in the analysis required pursuant to California Government Code Section 65583(a)(7).
c. Existing residential or commercial parking within one-half (1/2) mile of the housing development project.
E. Subsection (D) of this section shall not apply to a housing development project that satisfies any of the following:
1. The development dedicates a minimum of twenty (20) percent of the total number of housing units to very low, low-, or moderate-income households, students, the elderly, or persons with disabilities.
2. The development contains fewer than twenty (20) housing units.
3. The development is subject to parking reductions based on the provisions of any other applicable law.
F. Electric Vehicle Parking Requirements. This section shall not reduce, eliminate, or preclude the enforcement of any requirement imposed on a new multifamily residential or nonresidential development that is located within one-half (1/2) mile of public transit to provide electric vehicle supply equipment installed parking spaces or parking spaces that are accessible to persons with disabilities that would have otherwise applied to the development if this section did not apply.
G. Providing Parking Voluntarily. A project may voluntarily build additional parking that is not shared with the public. When a project provides parking voluntarily, the City may impose requirements on that voluntary parking to require spaces for car share vehicles, require spaces to be shared with the public, or require parking owners to charge for parking. The City shall not require that voluntarily provided parking is provided to residents free of charge. (Ord. 1070 § 7, 2023)